Mucus, goblet cell, submucosal gland

Abstract

Airway mucus plays an important role in the host defense system as a physicochemical barrier by trapping foreign and endogenous substances, facilitating clearance by mucociliary activity. Mucus also has antioxidant, antiprotease, and antimicrobial functions. The major components of mucus are glycoproteins called mucins, which are secreted by epithelial goblet cells and submucosal gland cells. Hypersecretion of mucus is a common characteristic of sinonasal inflammation in association with hypertrophic and metaplastic changes of goblet cells and gland cells. Pathological mucus hypersecretion impairs mucociliary function and becomes part of the pathogenic process, causing symptoms such as rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction. Appropriate therapy to inhibit mucus hypersecretion restores mucociliary clearance and improves symptoms.